***** Boris … Please open the golf courses … we promise to be good *****
We have a target date – start planning your comeback
At last we have a date for golf restarting if all goes to plan.
Hopefully, by 29th March the sun will be shining, the course will be in great condition and we can get out there and enjoy ourselves again. Between now and then the Section Committees will be working to get ready for the day. There are a number of things that need to be clarified before booking will be open to members, not least of which are; will it be 2, 3 or 4 balls and what tee interval will be allowed. These will need to be clarified by England Golf and the Company.
Additionally, we will have lost a few competitions with the late start to the season and the Section Committees will have to decide which competitions need to be rearranged. So please give us a few weeks to get things clarified and we’ll update you as soon as we have anything new to share.
The News We Didn’t Want to Hear
Unfortunately due to the latest announcement from the government, we will be closed until further notice.
We will be sending out some correspondence via email soon.
The England Golf Announcement reads …….
“The UK Government has announced a complete lockdown of England with immediate effect.
Golf clubs, golf facilities – both indoor and outdoor – and driving ranges will be required to close during this full lockdown. As such, coaching will not be permitted.”
Tier 4 but golf continues (for now)
The effects of Tier 4
The Club Secretary, Candy, is currently in discussion with the Company and the 3 section committees regarding the current changes necessary to comply with Tier 4 Regulations.
We are hopeful we can maintain some form of competitive play in 2 balls.
We expect to have some agreement and consensus tomorrow.
Watch this space.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Dear Members,
On this Christmas Eve I would like to wish all our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Year.
Queen Elizabeth II once referred to 1992 as an “annus horribilis,” a Latin phrase meaning horrible year, and as 2020 draws to close, it is a fitting description for this year. 2020 will forever be remembered for the unfolding impact of the pandemic which has impacted every aspect of our lives including our leisure time and our golf club.
Keeping our cherished game going through constantly changing restrictions has been a challenge for both the management of the Club and the Committees. Zoom meetings have become the normal method of communicating and many of our challenges have been addressed from our homes using computer and social media.
England Golf decided to continue with the implementation of the World Handicapping System despite the limitations imposed by the restrictions. It is a credit to our WHS team that this has been achieved and that we will be ready for the season ahead.
We have also implemented two new competition and score recording systems for the Seniors Section and the Men’s winter competitions. Based on Handicap Master and Master Scoreboard we have continued to play competitive golf throughout the latter parts of the year.
During our troubled times, the game of golf and being part of the Club has become ever more important to us. The opportunity to be out in the fresh air has given us purpose and a sense of normality in an abnormal world. With a fresh New Year comes hope and optimism of better times ahead and we will endeavour to keep the game going whatever the circumstances and impositions placed upon us.
I would like to take this festive opportunity to thank all our members for their continued support and on behalf of the Club Committee, we send our best wishes.
Geoff Brown
Club President.
Men’s Section – Sending Photos of your Scorecards
When playing in the Sunday competitions, please note the email address for your scorecards is …….
Christmas course report
Well December saw the return of golfers and staff back to Parklands , following an incredibly dry November the course was looking in great condition, unfortunately the weather had other ideas for the opening weekend, where we had over two inches in as many days.
Having such a wet period and the amounting golf being played, the greens team are having to manage the traffic around the course , best they can!. This is to protect the course as much as possible, as well as giving the golfer the best possible course they can.
Work has continued at the first , pulling the main drain from the pond up to the green, connecting the greens drainage system to its outlet , which is already performing extremely well.
Work to the fairway bunkers will begin this week,with them being reshaped into our new style of bunkering
Greens and tees winter fertiliser has been applied, which will keep them ticking over healthy during the winter months
Some greens have been treated with a fungicide, to help fight off any unwanted disease on the playing surface, which has always been easy with the mild temperatures and wet conditions, but on a whole ,we’re very pleased
The greens team would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy & healthy new year. We look forward to seeing you all, for a better 2021!
WE’RE BACK
November Greens Report
This month has seen us complete the drainage work to the 13th Green and approach. We have drained the natural slack areas with a primary piped system which will be complemented by the sandcat machine once the turf has knitted and ground conditions suit. Work has now moved to the first green where a more intensive piped system is currently being installed. Once completed we are hoping to start on the reconstruction of both greenside and fairway bunkers.
With the milder weather we have seen an extended period of grass cutting so the mowers have still been unseasonably busy. We have also taken the opportunity during this second lockdown to vertidrain the greens again. The approaches have also been slit tine aerated.
The greens have been given various tonics aimed at hardening the plant heading into the winter period, overall, the greens are looking very healthy.
Elsewhere the bridge at the 2nd has been repaired where defective.
We would also again like to place on record our thanks to Jimmy Walker, our course Marshall, for his help who has been out divotting and helping with the ongoing battle with the leaf clearance work.